Research institutes

Research is a driving force at UCL. It’s organised via distinct yet complementary research entities: research institutions, research centres, technology platforms and Louvain4. Fundamental and applied research is pursued with equal vigour in the university’s 22 research institutes. In the humanities, science and technology, and health sciences—the university’s three ‘sectors’—the institutes develop research policies that may be formulated around research clusters.

Institutes and clusters are supported by UCL’s 25 technology platforms which coordinate administrative profiles and scientific and technical equipment (e.g. laboratory, archive or translation resources) for use by specific experts. In parallel, UCL has leading research centres that bring together researchers to work on a research area or project. The goal is to encourage high-level interdisciplinary research. In terms of a multidisciplinary approach, UCL hopes to take a further step by launching the Louvain4 cross-disciplinary research initiative. Louvain4’s mission is to assemble teams of researchers of very different backgrounds to devise a comprehensive approach to developing concrete solutions to society’s greatest present and future challenges.